Google Finance, Govt, Policy and Business Issues Forum

A piece of software called Browser Address Error Redirector, or Google AFE on older systems, has to be uninstalled to make the redirection behavior go away for good.

Removing the Google Toolbar from a new Dell system doesn't completely take away Google's effect on a PC. Ulevitch thinks this borders on placing spyware on new computers, for the sake of boosting the razor-thin margins in Dell's PC business.

Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, said gathering more personal data was a key way for Google to expand and the company believes that is the logical extension of its stated mission to organise the world’s information.

“The goal is to enable Google users to be able to ask the question such as ‘What shall I do tomorrow?’ and ‘What job shall I take?”

remember this from two years ago...

Google personalised search, allows users to give Google permission to store their web-surfing history, what they have searched and clicked on, and use this to create more personalised search results for them

The software that comes shipped on your Dell, that might seem annoying, is also what helps Dell keep their prices low. I would rather buy a computer with some trial and toolbar software than pay an extra $100. A format takes 40 minutes if it really is that annoying.